I was rather fortunate to see a note on the notice board at the hotel regarding deep sea fishing at night. One of the guests (RAF Sam) was looking to get a boat together. Four anglers were required to spread the cost of a trip and make it financially reasonable. The going rate is £100 for three hours which includes tackle hire, bait and the time taken to get to the mark and back. I had taken a thirty pound class, all rollered boat rod and matching reel with me for Marlin fishing. It was just as well as the hire rods were pretty beat up and the reels were no better. We set off into the sunset, anchored and fished 300mtrs from another island. By deep sea they meant 15mtrs deep. Before it got dark we could see our baits on the bottom and the fish attacking it on the way down!

Once darkness fell the sport started in earnest. First small red grouper and red snapper, then a better mottled grouper and some surgeon fish. The activity must have attracted Barracuda as I was twice bitten off on the drop. As there were no wire traces available I stepped up to a 120lb hooklength, that too was bitten through after a twenty yard run!
The Barracuda then left us alone and a decent stamp of red snapper moved in and we all caught well, eventually running out of bait.
The snapper were cooked and served up later that evening on the beach, very tastey.

In short they are not really interested. As the sport boat is owned and run by the hotel with the same staff that hire out snorkelling, wind surfing and all other sport equipment, you can understand there is no incentive to get you out on the water. The equipment and lures I took with me were far superior to that available. I was first told it was too rough to go out, then it was too calm. They charge US$238 for a three hour trip but will make it four hours if you don't catch. If you wish to hire the boat and fish all on your own (not advisable with all the reefs and no navigation equipment or charts) it will still set you back US$220. Twice the amount I was quoted when I made an E mail enquiry of the hotel!
In the ten days I was there the boat only went out once, and did not catch. My personnal feeling is that the hotel in question is wasting a valuable source of income. I wish I had the a contract with them to run Marlin fishing trips! Still as they have just been taken over by club med for 45 million I don't suppose they are worried.

The nearest I got to a Marlin was building one of sand on the beach!